Advertised as the ‘Golden Book of Sacred Song,’ and affectionately known as ‘Old Blue,’ Great Songs of the Church was used by congregations, schools, colleges and universities, and singing assemblies around the world. Visit the library blog to learn about the compilation of this hymnal and how to access the online exhibit.
The story begins in rural Nebraska, hardly a stronghold of the Restoration Movement, with Danish immigrants Christopher and Lena Jorgenson. Despite their limited capacity with the English language they enthusiastically embraced the reform plea of the Churches of Christ. Their son Elmer Leon Jorgenson (1886-1968) employed his great musical ability and Christian devotion to compile the most enduring hymnal used among Churches of Christ and Christian Churches. Great Songs of the Church, ten years in the making, debuted in May 1921. Seventy years and millions of copies later it was still in print–surpassing the astonishing sixty-year print run of Alexander Campbell’s hymnal. Advertised as the ‘Golden Book of Sacred Song,’ and affectionately known as ‘Old Blue,’ Great Songs of the Church was used by congregations, schools, colleges and universities, and singing assemblies around the world. See more in this online exhibit: https://blogs.acu.edu/specialcollections/exhibits/a-century-of-great-songs-e-l-jorgensons-remarkable-hymnal/#.YVi4tBDMLBI